RMT strikes announced

[Falcon1200]

They are effectively 5 days as I doubt you are going to get much of a service on the middle day.

Interesting they have gone down the 48 hour strikes with a day apart this time.

What are the chances of Network Rail playing hardball and imposing a lockout on December 15th, given that services will be disrupted that day anyway?

The point of calling strikes is to try and get the employer to cancel them by making a better offer. Stepping up the ante is entirely appropriate.

But given progress so far, do the RMT really expect the Government/DfT/employers to agree to their demands now? (They must of course, otherwise there would be no point).

The government seem quite happy to wait it out. It's been 6 months now.

Indeed, and when this finally ends there will be no winners, not staff, passengers or the general railway industry.

 

[Russel]

We can presume you're comfortably in the "I can afford it, thanks" category then? Plenty aren't!

Or you could presume I'm a minimum/low wage worker reliant on the railway to get to work who now may not be able to get to work, worsening an already perilous financial situation.

But as long as the RMT lads get there inflation level pay rise...

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Not hurrah... I'm due to travel from Penrith to Reading via Euston on 15th and back on 18th... what are the chances do you think?

There will almost definitely be trains from both Penrith to Euston (likely a change at Preston needed) and Paddington or Waterloo to Reading, but very limited.
Typically, you're likely looking at a roughly two-hourly service to Preston, one an hour from Preston to Paddington, and during previous strikes there have been hourly Paddington services to Bristol or Swansea which will call at Reading. Goes without saying they will be packed and connection times won't be great, but what I'm saying is - it is possible on this route, but far from ideal. I'm referring to Avanti only. There may be more options with you taking TPE for the first leg of the journey.

 

[theblackwatch]

At a guess, many were quite probably lulled into a sense of security by the hitherto quite measured and careful action taken so far. The leadership have now thrown caution to the wind and upped the stakes massively.

Agreed. And any who thought like this were/are probably a bit naïve.

 

[Watershed]

What has Avanti Euston to Glasgow looked like on previous RMT strike days please?

Four trains each way at roughly 2 hourly intervals.

Not hurrah... I'm due to travel from Penrith to Reading via Euston on 15th and back on 18th... what are the chances do you think?

The trains will be busier than normal, but you'll be able to travel.

 

[Skiddaw]

There will almost definitely be trains from both Penrith to Euston (likely a change at Preston needed) and Paddington or Waterloo to Reading, but very limited.
Typically, you're likely looking at a hourly or two-hourly service to Preston, one an hour from Preston to Paddington, and during previous strikes there have been hourly Paddington services to Bristol or Swansea which will call at Reading. Goes without saying they will be packed and connection times won't be great, but what I'm saying is - it is possible on this route, but far from ideal.

Well, has to be said that in all honesty it doesn't sound much different to most of the Avanti journeys I've made in the past year or two. If it's remotely doable I'm up for it.

I don't want to blow out as I'm visiting my best friend and we don't catch up in person very often....

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Well, has to be said that in all honesty it doesn't sound much different to most of the Avanti journeys I've made in the past year or two. If it's remotely doable I'm up for it.

I don't want to blow out as I'm visiting my best friend and we don't catch up in person very often....

Yes, because there remains a service on the WCML during strikes it's doable. It's the lines that get completely abandoned that are more of an issue.
Portsmouth, for example, never gets served during strikes, nor does Salisbury, Bournemouth or Guildford.

 

[the sniper]

But as long as the RMT lads get there inflation level pay rise...

I don't think anybody expects there'll be an inflation level pay rise.

 

[55002]

Surely the fact that people need to work their rest days in order to survive/ get through xmas etc is the reason why people are striking for better pay?

 

[Russel]

In the interest of transparency, what is the average salary of an RMT member currently?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Yes, because there remains a service on the WCML during strikes it's doable. It's the lines that get completely abandoned that are more of an issue.
Portsmouth, for example, never gets served during strikes, nor does Salisbury, Bournemouth or Guildford.

Just because services have operated on routes in previous strikes is no bearing to which routes will run on these strikes it could well be less if there are less contingent staff available due to other commitments.

 

[Narrowgauge725]

It would be interesting to work out what percentage of pay all these strikes and overtime bans are going to cost those of you on strike. Might take a long time to get it back if you ever do.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It was briefly discussed in my seminar recently. One individual, who has to travel from Cardiff to near Whitby, said "The main issue with December strikes other than regular ones is that this time, people are willing to let their greed deliberately ruin many people's Christmases, which is when it takes it too far" and it didn't get anywhere near as many boos as I had feared! It's somewhat true - for many Christmas is when people can reunite with family they haven't seen in years or don't get to see very often, which is why I previously referred to striking over Christmas as sick.

The dates are nowhere near as cruel as feared, but I'm just waiting for ASLEF to take the 23/24/30/31.

 

[RAPC]

Plenty of time for me to adapt and change my travel plans, which I fortunately have the flexibility to do.

The strikers still have my support, especially as they are sacrificing a lot of pay at an expensive time of year. Hopefully this can all be avoided though and there may actually be a breakthrough on negotiations in the coming days and weeks.

 

[gazzaa2]

i doubt that, most staff hate working the Christmas period as its usually full of drunken d@@kheads but hopefully will bring an offer to the table. Also i don't think you get the level of anger among rail staff, strikes were called off due to being told there would be an offer made. Lets face it the only reason the strikes have not been sorted out by now is that the tory government had knackered the economy and are using the culture wars and union baron routine to bash labour as they have nothing else left, notice when Liz crashed the economy suddenly the papers and news were non stop talking about people on boats as a distraction to talking about the economy.

What else did the RMT expect though? That was obvious in the summer. This strike is on its 3rd different Prime Minister and none of them seem to have any interest in ending the strike.

They're waiting it out until the public lose patience with the union and the strikes.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just because services have operated on routes in previous strikes is no bearing to which routes will run on these strikes it could well be less if there are less contingent staff available due to other commitments.

Yes, alright, but seeing as there's no indication right now as no strike timetables have been published, one would presume advice reflecting on what has been the case consistently all year is better than nothing.

 

[Andyh82]

This will serve only to polarise the workforce, between those fortunate enough to be able to afford to hemorrhage money right on top of Christmas, and those who can't. The RMT leadership has just departed the real world. Very possibly the beginning of the end for them I would think.

You assume they aren’t going to cancel the strikes two minutes before they are due to start like last time

 

[XIX7007177]

Going to be an interesting time. I believe drivers at GTR return their ballot around mid December.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

What else did the RMT expect though? That was obvious in the summer. This strike is on its 3rd different Prime Minister and none of them seem to have any interest in ending the strike.

That's because there likely IS no interest in ending it; they're waiting with the assumption that the unions will eventually "give up and shut up", effectively, whether it's right or wrong to do so. Although to a degree, I think it's the right approach, because if they concede every time, how long before they decide their newly increased level of pay is also insufficient?

 

[gazzaa2]

It's absolutely imperative I get from Glasgow to London on Saturday 17th Dec. Looks like it's back to easyJet before like minded people push the plane ticket price up....

If it's that important I wouldn't risk Avanti anyway tbh. Unless you want to stand in Preston station car park for several hours.

 

[jayah]

They've been striking since July and still haven't got a result so one more won't hurt, clearly...

This is going too far now.

I am not sure what was expected? They demanded RPI despite government defraying much of the cost of heating with direct payments.

No compulsory redundancy, Sundays outside the week, resistance to new ways of working. They were always miles away from doing a deal and the finances are even tighter than when this began.

If they want a decent pay rise, the unions will have to talk productivity instead of revolution.

 

[dk1]

That's because there likely IS no interest in ending it; they're waiting with the assumption that the unions will eventually "give up and shut up", effectively, whether it's right or wrong to do so. Although to a degree, I think it's the right approach, because if they concede every time, how long before they decide their newly increased level of pay is also insufficient?

Apart from the conditions issue, employees have had no pay increase for 3 years. Even 1 year without is practically unheard of working for a TOC or NR.

 

[brad465]

Or you could presume I'm a minimum/low wage worker reliant on the railway to get to work who now may not be able to get to work, worsening an already perilous financial situation.

But as long as the RMT lads get there inflation level pay rise...

The decision to increase benefits and state pension in line with inflation is not going to help the Government with regards to any strike action.

 

[Russel]

Apart from the conditions issue, employees have had no pay increase for 3 years. Even 1 year without is practically unheard of working for a TOC or NR.

If the industry took revenue protection a little more seriously there would be more money in the pot for that pay rise.

 

[Andyh82]

I’m presuming the days after the strike will have no morning peak service as the rail industry will find loads of different reasons why they can’t provide a service as per usual. First trains into Leeds after a strike routinely arrive after 9am.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Well, the draw for the next round of the FA Trophy has gone from a busted flush (very little in the way of new grounds) to a blessing in disguise (three nearby bussable sides all at home).

Of course, that's subject to Stagecoach declaring yet another "National gratuitous cancellations day"...

 

[AVK17]

Or you could presume I'm a minimum/low wage worker reliant on the railway to get to work who now may not be able to get to work, worsening an already perilous financial situation.

I suggest you join a trade union and fight for better pay.

 

[gazzaa2]

Well, the draw for the next round of the FA Trophy has gone from a busted flush (very little in the way of new grounds) to a blessing in disguise (three nearby bussable sides all at home).

Of course, that's subject to Stagecoach declaring yet another "National gratuitous cancellations day"...

That's train strikes on FA Cup 1st, 2nd and 3rd round dates as well. Really playing havoc with fixtures this season, as every round of strikes always has to include a Saturday.

 

[the sniper]

I suggest you join a trade union and fight for better pay.

Maybe the average level of pay where they work is very high, so they don't matter?

 

[dk1]

If the industry took revenue protection a little more seriously there would be more money in the pot for that pay rise.

I think that varies greatly across the network/companies.